I have been asked to serve on a panel for my local library’s updated strategic plan, and am trying to come up with
questions and improvement opportunities I should consider suggesting. A community survey is being circulated – results not yet tabulated.
The population served is about 12,000 – there is a regional (county) library about half an hour away, as well as numerous other local libraries.
This library holds about 50,000 items in three areas: adult, teen and children’s. There is also a reference collection, a wide selection of general interest magazines and newspapers, and a Local History Collection. Materials are available in print (including large print), DVD, music CD, audiobook, and graphic novel formats. Video games are available for Wii and Xbox 360 systems. Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks are available through OverDrive, and downloadable magazines are available through Flipster. Passes to local museums are also available for borrowing.
Recently the library has added numerous spaces for computer work, Chinese language newspapers in consideration of an increase in that population (in particular grandparents who are not English speaking but live with children and their families), and passport services. Meeting rooms are made available. Movie nights are scheduled, and occasional speakers invited.
I do find the periodicals section weak – perhaps this is because I am an “oldster” and many others now read magazines online. Would love to see more “high end” publications such as The Economist, but apparently library subscription rates to magazines such as that are very high.
Great director and staff are strengths of this library.
I love libraries but wonder what other suggestions could be made for future development of the library as a community resource.
Thanks for any input from the library lovers here!
I would start with the data from the survey. If the library has data on past usage e.g. visitors, copier machines, and so on and you can get at least a 5 year trendline it would be helpful. Community usage would be very different than say a university and you may be able to find existing studies as benchmarks also. A strategic plan is forward looking so data from your town on population trends would be helpful. Clearly young people have very different habits than middle-agers, etc. regarding reading habits and so on. Try very hard not to project your desires and be objective as technology is absolutely changing the landscape for libraries.
One thing that I really like is when libraries have meeting rooms that can be rented out and used for community events or library events—guest speakers, presentations, book fairs, even live streaming webinars. I am not sure if this is something your lubrary currently has or may want in the future?
One thing I don’t like is the ergonomics of my library; books are on shelves that literally go from the floor to higher than I can reach. If I want to read the titles on the bottom shelf, I have to get down on my knees, and I can’t read the top shelf without a step stool - not user friendly at all! Also, the computers are side-by-side with little work space which is uncomfortable for a lefty like me - I’d like a little more space between computers so I’m not bumping elbows with the person next to me. While those are small items that don’t directly answer your question, I feel they do impact library usage in general by middle-aged and older folks.
Just a couple of observations. I think libraries should be integrated with the local schools – combining resources, better use of space, etc. Second, take all the survey results, put them in a box, and then drop that box from the second floor. Break out of the box, really stretch and redefine what a library is and should be. Otherwise, you’ll end up extinct. Good luck.
Our library has meeting rooms some within the library and some that can be used after hours without entering the stacks. We have a small auditorium and meeting room that can be rented and an art gallery space in the main lobby that gets used constantly. The library also runs lots of programs - ESL, knitting, a cookbook club, many activities for kids, not just story hours. We have an active foundation that through booksales raises $60,000+ a year. We have a separate sound insulated room for teens in addition to the children’s room. They keep shuffling things around but currently only new books and the children’s room is on the ground floor - the rest of the space is for movies and videos.
I consider our libraries community hubs. In addition to books, movies, computers people have access to passports, meeting rooms, after school homework help, free lunches/after school snacks for those who qualify, grant writing workshops and access to online grant databases - oodles of community partnership. Identify some issues in your community and put yourself (someone representing the library) at the table where community concerns take place - that is how you can see other ways a library can serve the community.
Also as an early literacy professional I would encourage you to bulk up your birth-5 offerings - start kids and parents with the library as a free place of entertainment and learning. Hook them! I am in the health care/literacy arena and we have offered library card sign up for special “kid cards” at local pediatric/FP primary care offices - when families bring in their colorful brief application to the library they get a free book, a free tour of the library by a staff member (yes, many people don’t feel comfortable in a library - this helps them know how to “use” it!) and of course, a library card for the child that limits what they can check out (quantity) but NO FINES.
So bring the community into the library and bring the library to the community. Partner, partner, partner.
Oh yeah, they always do tax help in spring. I was also part of an effort (thanks to a grant from Reader’s Digest) to make more connections between the school libraries and the public library.
Our library system allows nonprofits to distribute info about their community offerings on a table in the library. Better yet, you can drop off envelopes for ALL libraries and they will use their inter library trucks to be sure your materials are delivered to all libraries.
Even though I’m involved with my local library, I have little to add. So many good ideas above.
We have events every Sunday (talks, musicians). Mid-day Thursday there is a discussion group. It is well,organized, so no one can take over the conversation. Lots of seniors are regulars.
Lots of activities for the kids, and a group,of volunteers go out into the community. The used bookstore is quite popular. That is run by The FRiends of the Library, and it costs $20 a year to be a member and get emails about all the events coming up. And get option to reserve a seat.
The second floor has many big, comfy chairs. Local artists rotate thru this area. I still work, so I’ve only been to the evening events. The “wedding” rental space is outside on second floor, but can move into this open inside area. We had a lovely restaurant, but it recently closed.
Honestly, I think the only thing we do differently is that one can rent baking pans. All kinds of special molds are displayed above the check-out line.
Just my two cents from someone who loves the library and once had a goal of reading every book in it…
Reciprocal rights to borrowing between libraries of different counties. I LOVE this but keep running into a “you don’t have a sticker on your card”. I have a library card and a driver’s license to show residency. This is only my county who seems to have a problem with common sense at times.
Increase e-books.
Look at library hours. Our library is closed on Sundays. Half of the time that most people could actually utilize it.
It cuts out any kid who might want to take advantage. I don’t understand this at all. You could run this on volunteer basis to be honest. It’s no wonder that administration says the library isn’t being utilized–they aren’t open!
Our local library in our last town had a bookmobile that would visit senior centers, retirement homes, and people who were home bound could sign up for visits. It was a modified school bus with lots of titles.
I have been involved with my local library for over 20 years and currently work in a small public library in a neighboring town. I was on the strategic planning committee at one point for my library (we did a survey also). One result from our survey was to tweak our hours.
The key is to make the library serve the community and it’s specific needs. Think of the library as a community resource - space (meeting rooms, study areas, etc.), materials (books, dvd’s etc.), information (on-line resources, presentations on various topics, tax help, etc.), and entertainment (movies, kids activities, crafts, etc.).
What needs do residents have in your town have in these areas. Remember in one community it might be great for the library to lend tools, in another they might lend ukuleles (my library is currently doing that). In my town, the library is very quiet and typically has lots of people sitting at tables working at their laptop. The library where I work is usually noisy with people socializing and playing mah Jongg or holding a writing workshop in a public area.
The biggest thing my local library is praised for was providing a place for people to keep warm and charge their devices during Sandy when most of the town was without power.
Whatever plan your library ends up implementing, make sure you get the word out to the community! I’m still surprised by my library’s offerings and feel they could do a better job of spreading the word. They have lots of info available once you’re in the library, but they could utilize social media more to connect with the schools and announce events ,etc.
